Efficacy and safety of high-dose intramuscular vitamin D injection in type 2 diabetes mellitus with distal symmetric polyneuropathy combined with vitamin D insufficiency: study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) is the most common chronic complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). DSPN may lead to more serious complications, such as diabetic foot ulcer, amputation, and reduced life expectancy. Observational studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with the development of DSPN in T2DM.

[Maternal neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic biomarker for placental inflammatory response in late pregnancy].

Objective: To investigate the association between maternal serum neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and placental inflammatory response (PIR) in late pregnancy.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and follow-up data of 478 pregnant women undergoing routine prenatal examination and delivery in our hospital in the year 2016. According to the placental pathological results, the women were divided into PIR group (238 cases) and control group (240 cases).

[Clinical value of genome-wide chromosome microarray technique in diagnosis of fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly].

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of gnome-wide chromosome microarray (CMA) technique in genetic etiological diagnosis of fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted in 109 women with singleton pregnancy, who were admitted in Nanfang Hospital with the diagnosis of cerebral ventriculomegaly in the fetuses by ultrasound between January, 2014 and December, 2016. Routine karyotype analysis and chromosome microarray analysis were performed to identify the chromosomal abnormalities in the fetuses.

[Correlation analysis of fetal middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity, cardiothoracic ratio and crown-rump length in early pregnancy].

Objective: To explore the pattern of variations in middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA PSV) and cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) during early pregnancy, establish their reference ranges and explore their correlation with the crown-rump length (CRL).

Methods: A total of 522 pregnant women with normal findings in antenatal examinations underwent routine color Doppler ultrasound examination to collect the data of MCA PSV, CTR and CRL. The reference ranges of MCA PSV and CTR for different CRL levels were established, and the correlation of MCA PSV and CTR with CRL was analyzed.

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Clinical application of triptolide (TP), a main active ingredient of the traditional Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. (TWHF), is limited by a series of severe toxicities, including cardiotoxicity. In previous studies, we found the activation of sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) attenuated TP-induced toxicity in cardiomyocytes.

Tanshinone IIA protects against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity via activating the Nrf2 pathway.

Background: Tanshinone IIA (Tan), the main active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, has been demonstrated to have antioxidant activity. Acetaminophen (APAP), a widely used antipyretic and analgesic, can cause severe hepatotoxicity and liver failure when taken overdose. Oxidative stress has been reported to be involved in APAP-induced liver failure.

Activation of SIRT3 attenuates triptolide-induced toxicity through closing mitochondrial permeability transition pore in cardiomyocytes.

Triptolide (TP), an active component of the traditional Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. (TWHF), has multiple pharmacological effects. However, the severe toxicity of TP greatly restricts its clinical applications.

Giganteaside D induces ROS-mediated apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the MAPK pathway.

Purpose: Every year, almost one million individuals are diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide and more than 690,000 patients die of it. At present, most therapeutic anti-HCC agents are not effective, which is due to the appearance of chemo-resistance and/or toxic side effects. Therefore, it is imperative to find novel more effective anti-HCC agents.

[Effects of Litchi chinensis Seed Saponins on Inhibiting Hyperplasia of Mammary Glands and Influence on Signaling Pathway of Estrogen in Rats].

Objective: To discuss the role of Litchi chinensis seed saponins on hyperplasia of mammary glands(HMG) and the influence of estrogen signaling pathways in rats.

Methods: In addition to eight non-pregnant female SD rats in normal control group, the other 32 pathologic models of HMG rat model were randomly divided into other four groups: model control group, low and high dose groups, which were given experimental drug of Litchi chinensis seed saponins (LSE) 0. 1 g/kg and 0.

Activation of the farnesoid X receptor attenuates triptolide-induced liver toxicity.

Background: Triptolide, an active ingredient extracted from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f., has multiple pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory, and anti-proliferative activities. However, the hepatotoxicity of triptolide always limits its clinical applications.

Autophagy plays an important role in triptolide-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.

Triptolide (TP), a major bioactive component isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. (TWHF), has been shown to exert various pharmacological effects. However, the severe toxicity of TP prevents wide clinical use.

Renal interstitial fibrosis induced by high-dose mesoporous silica nanoparticles via the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Previous studies have indicated that the nephrotoxicity induced by mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) is closely related to inflammation. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a common rapid transcription factor associated with inflammation, plays an important role in the process of many kidney diseases. Acute toxicity assessment with a high-dose exposure is critical for the development of nanoparticle, as a part of standardized procedures for the evaluation of their toxicity.

Triptolide-induced oxidative stress involved with Nrf2 contribute to cardiomyocyte apoptosis through mitochondrial dependent pathways.

Triptolide (TP), a major active ingredient extracted from the widely used Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. (TWHF), has been demonstrated to possess various biological activities. However, the clinical applications of TP are limited by its narrow therapeutic window and severe toxicity.

ZNF217 is associated with poor prognosis and enhances proliferation and metastasis in ovarian cancer.

ZNF217 is an alternatively spliced Kruppel-like transcription factor that has recently been implicated to play a role in human carcinogenesis. Here, we used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to show that ZNF217 protein is overexpressed in nearly 60% of ovarian tumor samples. The disease-free survival time was shorter in patients with positive ZNF217 expression than in ZNF217-negative patients (P=0.

The developmental pattern of the RAS/RAF/Erk1/2 pathway in the BTBR autism mouse model.

BTBR mice exhibit several autistic-like behaviors and are currently used as a model for understanding mechanisms that may be responsible for the pathogenesis of autism. Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling has been suggested to play an important role in neural development, learning, memory, and cognition. Two studies reported that a deletion of a locus on chromosome 16 containing the mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) gene, which encodes ERK1, is associated with autism.

[Prenatal diagnosis of single umbilical artery: implications for chromosomal abnormalities and neonatal outcome].

Objective: To investigate the implications of a prenatal diagnosis of single umbilical artery (SUA) for chromosomal abnormalities and neonatal outcomes.

Methods: From January, 2008 to June, 2012, color Doppler ultrasound identified 44 fetuses with SUA. Prenatal diagnoses with amniocentesis or umbilical blood sampling were subsequently ordered for routine chromosome karyotyping and the newborns were followed up for assessing the neonatal outcomes.

[Schisandrin B protects against nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin in HK-2 cells via Nrf2-ARE activation].

This study is to investigate the protection effect of schisandrin B (Sch B) against oxidation stress of HK-2 cells induced by cisplatin and the mechanisms involved. HK-2 cells were cultured and divided into different groups: solvent control group, cisplatin exposure group, positive group, Sch B treatment group. Cell viability and toxicity were evaluated by MTT and LDH assay.

Necroptosis contributes to the cyclosporin A-induced cytotoxicity in NRK-52E cells.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) induces renal tubular epithelial cells apoptosis and necrosis following in vitro exposure. The mechanisms of CsA-induced apoptosis have been studied intensively, whereas the mechanisms of necrosis remain to be elucidated. Necroptosis has been described as programmed necrosis.

Role of Nrf2 in protection against triptolide-induced toxicity in rat kidney cells.

Triptolide is a major active ingredient of the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. (TWHF) and has been shown to possess multiple biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-fertility, anti-neoplastic and immunosuppressive activities. However, severe adverse effects, especially nephrotoxicity, limit its clinical use.

Protective effect of schisandrin B against cyclosporine A-induced nephrotoxicity in vitro and in vivo.

Schisandrin B (Sch B) is an active ingredient of the fruit of Schisandra chinensis. It has many therapeutic effects arising from its tonic, sedative, antitussive and antiaging activities and is also used in the treatment of viral and chemical hepatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Sch B on cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced nephrotoxicity in mice and HK-2 cells (a human proximal tubular epithelial cell line).

Endoplasmic reticulum stress mediates aristolochic acid I-induced apoptosis in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells.

Aristolochic acid (AA), derived from the Aristolochia species, has been associated with aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN), which has emerged as a worldwide disease. Aristolochic acid I (AAI) is the main ingredient of AA, and the underlying mechanisms for AAI-induced nephrotoxicity are still unclear. In this study, we investigated whether endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was involved in AAI-induced nephrotoxicity.

The endoplasmic reticulum stress response is involved in apoptosis induced by aloe-emodin in HK-2 cells.

Aloe-emodin (AE; 1,8-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthracenedione) is one of the primary active compounds in total rhubarb anthraquinones (TRAs), which induce nephrotoxicity in rats. However, it is still not known whether AE has a similar effect on human kidney cells. In this study, 3-(4,5,-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays showed that AE decreases the viability of HK-2 cells (a human proximal tubular epithelial cell line) in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

[Correlation of fetal chromosomal abnormalities to prenatal ultrasound features].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between fetal chromosomal abnormalities and the characteristic features of prenatal ultrasound findings.

Methods: A total of 510 cases were underwent chromosome examination by amniotic fluid or cord blood analysis to identify fetal chromosomal abnormalities. The correlation between the abnormalities and the characteristics of the prenatal ultrasound findings was analyzed.

[Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography for screening antithrombin III gene mutation and polymorphisms in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis].

Objective: To identify antithrombin III (AT-III) gene mutation and polymorphisms in pregnant women and parturients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC).

Methods: The genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples of 50 pregnant women and parturients with CVT and 52 matched healthy women for molecular analysis using a PCR/DHPLC assay followed by DNA sequence analysis. Ten primer pairs were designed for amplifying the AT- III promoter region and exons 1-6 including the exon/intron boundaries.